7 August 2025
The Honourable Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia, today announced on behalf of the Judges of the Supreme Court the appointment of six new Senior Counsel. The appointments were made following wide consultation with judicial officers of the State, senior law officers of the State, and members of the legal profession.
Senior Counsel hold important leadership positions in the legal profession. Criteria for selection include legal learning, experience and skill in advocacy, integrity, availability to prospective clients and independence.
The new Senior Counsel are Mr Jeffrey Powell SC, Ms Jane Powell SC, Mr Scott Evans SC, Mr Thomas Bullock SC, Mr Thomas Besanko SC and Mr Robert Williams SC.
Mr Jeffrey Alvin Powell SC
Mr Powell SC holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Arts from Flinders University. He was admitted to practice in December 1988 and joined the independent bar in September 2006. Mr Powell SC practices principally in criminal law, appearing in appeal proceedings in the Court of Appeal and conducting complex criminal trials in the District and Supreme Courts of South Australia. Mr Powell SC’s current role as Chief Counsel of the Legal Services Commission includes the provision of advice and representation to the Criminal, Family and Civil Law Practice Divisions, and to the Director and Executive.
Ms Jane Kisandra Powell SC
Ms Powell SC holds a Bachelor or Laws from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Flinders University. She was admitted to practice in December 1993, joining the independent bar in February 2014. Ms Powell SC’s principal area of practice is criminal law, with a particular focus on complex trial work in the District Court of South Australia as defence counsel in serious indictable matters. Her practice also extends to prosecutions under Work, Health and Safety legislation. Ms Powell SC has appeared in the Supreme Court of South Australia, the South Australian Employment Tribunal, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and the South Australian Coroner’s Court. In January 2023, Ms Powell SC was appointed as a Sessional Member of SACAT.
Mr Scott Alexander Evans SC
Mr Evans SC holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide. He was admitted as a legal practitioner in December 2000 and joined the independent bar in July 2014. Mr Evans SC’s main area of practice is commercial litigation, with a speciality in insolvency, regularly acting in insolvent trading cases, breach of director duty claims, unfair preference claims, phoenix company claims, and liquidators’ examinations. Mr Evans SC also regularly appears and advises in trust and other equity disputes. He predominantly appears in the Supreme and District Courts of South Australia, and the Federal Court of Australia.
Mr Thomas Paul Bullock SC
Mr Bullock SC holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide. He was admitted to practice in 2005 and joined the independent bar in 2012. Mr Bullock SC has a broad civil, commercial and family law practice. His civil practice has an emphasis on intellectual property, information technology, defamation, defendant negligence and insurance matters, partnership and corporations law disputes, and construction law. Mr Bullock SC’s family law practice predominantly involves complex property matters. He appears regularly in the Supreme Court of South Australia, District Court of South Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia and Environment, Resources and Development Court of South Australia.
Mr Thomas Andrew Besanko SC
Mr Besanko SC holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide. He was admitted to practice in September 2009 and joined the independent bar in July 2012. Mr Besanko’s has a broad practice, primarily practising in commercial litigation. He regularly practises in administrative law, building and construction, insolvency, insurance, intellectual property, local government, medical negligence and personal injury. He predominantly appears in the Supreme Court of South Australia, the District Court of South Australia and the Federal Court of Australia. Mr Besanko has also appeared in the Full Court and the Court of Appeal, and in the High Court on special leave applications.
Mr Robert Douglas Williams SC
Mr Williams SC holds a Master of Laws (Honours) from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts from Bond University. He was admitted to practice in February 2006 and joined the independent bar in February 2015. Mr Williams SC predominantly practises in commercial law matters, primarily dealing with contractual claims, claims in tort, equity, and restitution, claims in respect of trusts, product liability claims, insolvency actions, intellectual property claims, and class actions. Mr Williams SC practises in the Supreme Court of South Australia and appears regularly in the Federal Court of Australia, the District Court of South Australia and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Remarking on the appointments, the Chief Justice said:
The appointment of Senior Counsel is a significant event for the successful applicants, for the legal profession, and the South Australian community.
Senior Counsel are leaders of the profession who adhere to the highest standards of legal excellence and integrity. The Chief Justice congratulates the Senior Counsel announced today. They have earned this recognition through the diligent performance of their duties to the Courts and their clients.